Hand grenade



Patented Dec. 6, 1%32 JOSEF WESZYCKI, OF BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, ASSIGNOR, TO FIRMA MAGYAR FEM-ES LAIv'IPA-ARU-GYAR RESZVENYTARSASAG UNGAR-ISGHE METALLWAREN- UND LAM- ?ENFABBIKS ACTIEN-GESELLSCHAFT, OF BUDAPEST, HUNGARY HAND G'RENAD'E Application filed July 27, 1932, Serial No. 624,983, and in Austria April 22, 1931.

This invention concerns a hand grenade with percussion fuse which offers complete security during transport and manipulation yet, nevertheless, (after the transport safety catch and the ignition safety catch have been released) will explode with certainty on striking in any position.

According to this invention the transport safety device consists of a cover, whose surface does not lie in a plane passing through the opening and normal to the longitudinal axis of the hand grenade, for example a convex flexible plate. The opening or closing is effected by a deformation of this cover, the circumference of the cover moving against the circumference of the orifice during closing, thereby pressing the cover firmly against the circumference of the orifice and thus sealing it. On the other hand if, while in the closed position, the cover is deformed in the opposite direction, it is then possible to remove it from the orifice of the grenade. When it is desired to deform the'cover forming the transport safety device, in order to open it, the man holding the grenade in readiness to throw presses on the cover at about its centre by means of a finger. Even after the transport safety catch has been released, however, this invention permits its being returned to the locked or safety position. To do this the cover is subjected to a deformation in a direction opposite to that which was used for opening, a suitable means for this being a ring of semi-circular cross section whose edges lie on one side on the circumference of the cover and on the other side on points lying inside the circumference of the cover. By depressing this ring the transport safety cat-ch which has previously been released can be returned to the locked position.

The advantages of the transport safety catch, according to this invention, are, in addition to the ease of release and resetting, its simplicity and the fact that by means of it the interior of the grenade can easily be made water tight. F or this purpose a jointing ring is placed in the orific of the grenade and is pressed firmly into its seating by the cover.

The transport safety catch must obviously be released before the grenade is thrown.-

however, the hand grenades hitherto known i become useless in such an event, (as the safety catch becomes permanently looked over the fuse and the grenade cannot again be put into working condition) the hand grenade according to this invention can again be set in work ing condition by a simple hand pressure.

The drawing shows in Figure 1a vertical longitudinal section of a constructional example of the hand grenade in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2-a section of a variation of the fuse.

Figure 3an underneath view of the blocking cap. 7

In the orifice at one end of the body 1 of the grenade a blocking ring 2 is screwed in, which carries the transport safety device. This latter consists of the blocking cover 3, a convex flexible plate 4 which rests on this cover and whose edge is bent up at the point la, and a ring'5 having a semi-circular cross section and whose outer edge is firmly connected with the plate 4; by means of flanges 5a (Figure 3).

WVhen throwing the grenade it is held in the hand with the transport safety catch on top. The plate 4 is then pressed inwards with one finger through the central opening of the ring 5, whereby the circumferential part turns about the point 4a, thus leaving the wall of the ring 2. The transport safety device is now released and can fall out of the grenade. If, for any reason, it is desired to replace the transport safety catch it is only necessary to apply pressure to the ring 5 in order to cause the plate 4L (whose convex part was pressed in when being released) to return to the position shown, with its circumference pressing against the wall of the blocking ring 2. The transport safety catch is then again in the locked position.

Between the blocking ring 2 and the cover 3 there is a ointing ring 3a, which is pressed firmly against the blocking ring by the plate 4, thereby making the interior of the grenade water tight.

If the grenade is thrown after the transport safety catch has been released, the parts 3, 4 and 5 fall out of the grenade. Beneath the transport safety device there is a flap 7 which can rotate on a bolt 6 carried in the ring 2, and which carries a safety cap 8. After the transport safety device has fallen out, the flap 7 together with the cap 8, swing outwards through the orifice of the grenade and thus release the fuse safety catch. The movement of the parts 7 and 8 is caused by a pressure spring 26 carried in the head The grenade safety device consists of the head 9 and the pins 10 attached to this latter. In the safety position of the fuse these pins pass through holes in the fuse cap holder 11 and press outwards the balls 12 which are carried in recesses in this body. After the flap has swung up, the head 9 is released and can fall out of the'grenade together. with the pins 10. The balls 12 move inwards towards the central axis of the grenade, so that the parts 13 V and 11 of the fuse can now approach one another, the part 13 being guided to the part 11 by means of the projecting sheath 14. As a result of the relative movement of the parts 13 and 11 the firing pin 15 penetrates the fuse cap attached to the part 11 and the grenade explodes.

The firing of the grenade is ensured when striking in any position.

If the grenade strikes sideways, the movement of the fuse parts 13 and 11 towards one another is ensured owing to the movement of their cone shaped surfaces onthe slanting guide surfaces 17 and 18 of the frame 16.

If the grenade strikes on one of its ends the firing of the fuse cap takes place owing to the movement towards one another of the fuse parts 13 and 11 (normally supported by the spring 19) as a result of the reaction due to striking, and the firing pin 15 penetrates the fuse cap.

If the grenade is allowed to fall after the release of the transport safety catch, it looks itself automatically. On striking the ground a ring 20, which is carried loosely in the I grenade, and which is supported by a spring 21, is displaced sideways beneath the overlapping part of the frame 16 and engages with the top of the head 9. This looks the head and prevents the pins 10 from sliding out of the holes of the body 11, thus preventing the release of the fuse. If it is required to reset the grenade into the working position, the flap, 8 which swung outwards after the removal of the transport safety catch, is

swung back into its original position. The locking ring 20 is simultaneously pushed back into its central position, thus restoring the grenade to the state in which it is ready for use.

Figure 2 shows a further constructional example of the grenade according to this construction shown in Figure 2 is'to remove this danger by the use of a supplementary locking device. This latter consists of a bolt With the constructional examwhich is forced in between the two parts of the fuse when these move towards one another, and which does not interfere with the V movement of the firing pin if ignition takes place, but which, if for any reason ignition does not occur, penetrates between the parts of the fuse and locks them apart. I I

The fuse part 13 carries a plate 22 which is normally supported by shoulders on the pins 10 and which has a central opening for" the firing pin 15. One end of the plate 22 is formed into a hook 23, whichengages with a supporting ring 24, this latter bem constructed from wire "for example, an lying in a slot of the fuse part 13. A; deep cut 25 is form-ed in the fuse part 13,-reaching approximately to its centre.

When the grenade strikes, the parts 11 V and 13 approach one another, whereby-the part 11 pushes before it the plate carried by the part 13. The hook 23 then raises the ring 24 out of the slot of the fuse-part 13' and pushes it into the deep slot 25. v The ring 24thus reaches the upper surface of the fuse part 11. v l

If, for any reason, the explosion does not occur, the spring 19, which was compressed by the approach of the parts 11 and 13, towards one another, forcesthem apart again; The ring 24, which had already entered the by thus locking the path of the parts 11 and. 13, prevents their approaching one another again.

In this way the fuse device is completely locked and the grenade cannot be caused tov explode either by striking or other mechanical action. The grenade can, however, be again brought into an active condition by withdrawing the fuse device from the body of the grenade and replacing the driving plate 22 together with the support ring 24 in the, position shown. Thus, even if this locking;

device comes into operation, the grenade does.

through said opening, a-cover plate for said I 7 opening forming a safety; device for said;

slot 25, now slides further still into this, and l grenade and operable to permit said fuse to function, said cover plate being normally locked in said opening and capable of manual deformation to permit the same to fall from said opening and allow the fuse to be released and means whereby said cover plate may be returned to the normal to lock the cover plate in position.

2. A hand grenade comprising a casing of ovoid form for the reception of an explosive, said casing having an opening therein coaxial with the longitudinal axis thereof, a fuse adapted to be positioned in said casing and releasable through said opening, a. cover platefor said opening forming a safety device for said grenade and operable to per mit said fuse to function, said cover plate having a surface disposed out of a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said grenade, said cover plate being normally locked in said opening and being capable of manual deformation to permit the same to fall from said opening and allow the fuse to be released and. means whereby said cover plate may be return-ed to the normal to lock the same in position.

3. A hand grenade comprising a casing of ovoid form for the reception of an explosive, said casing having an opening therein coaxial with the longitudinal axis thereof, a fuse adapted to be positioned in said casing and releasable through said opening, a cover plate for said opening forming a safety device for said grenade and operable to permit said fuse to function, said plate being of concavo-convex form the centres of the curvature of which lie on a line coincident with the longitudinal axis of said grenade, said cover plate being normally locked in said opening and capable of manual deformation to permit the same to fall from said opening and allow the fuse to function and means whereby said cover plate may be returned to the normal to lock the same in position.

4:. A hand grenade comprising a casing for the reception of an explosive. said casing having an opening therein co-axial with the longitudinal axis thereof. a fuse adapted to be positioned in said casing and releasable through said opening, a cover plate for said opening forming a safety device for sa d grenade and operable to permit said fuse to function, said plate having a surface forming part of a sphere and being normally locked in said opening and capable of manual deformation to permit the same to fall from said opening and release the fuze and means whereby said cover plate may be re turned to the normal to lock the same in position.

5. A hand grenade comprising a casing for the reception of an explosive, said casing having an opening therein co-axial with the longitudinal axis thereof. a fuse adapted to be positioned in said casing and releasable through said opening, a cover plate for said opening forming a safety device for said grenade and operable to permit said fuse to function, a joint ring disposed between said cover plate and said opening, said cover plate being normally locked in said opening and capable of manual deformation to permit the same to fall from said opening and release the fuse and means whereby said cover plate may be returned to the normal to lock the same in position.

6. A hand grenade comprising a casing for the reception of an explosive, said casing hav ing an opening therein co-axial with the longitudinal axis thereof, a fuse adapted to be positioned in said casing and releasable through said opening, a cover plate for said opening forming a safety device for said grenade and operable to permit said fuse to function, an annular angular rim to said cover plate forming a fulcrum therefor, said 5 cover plate being normally locked in said opening and capable of manual deformation to permit the same to fall from said opening and release the fuse and means whereby said cover plate may be rocked on said fulcrum to return the plate to a no *mal locked position.

7. A hand grenade comprising a casing for the reception of an explosive, said casing having an opening therein coaxial with the longitudinal axis thereof, a shouldered blocxing ring disposed in said opening and secured to said casing, a fuse adapted to be positioned in said casing and releasable through said ring, a cover plate for said ring forming a safety device for said grenade and operable to permit said fuse to function, said cover plate being normally locked in said ring and capable of manual deformation to permit the same to fall from said ring and allow the fuse to be released and a member of semi-circular cross section, the outer edge of which is loosely iiio its

connected tothe edge of said cover plate and I is manually operable to return said cover plate after deformation to lock the same in said shouldered blocking ring.

8. A hand grenade comprising a casing for the reception of an explosive, said casing having an opening therein CO-1XialWitl1 the longitudinal axis thereof, a shouldered blocking ring disposed in said opening and secured to said casing, a fuse adapted to be positioned in said casing and releasable through said ring, a cover plate for the opening in said ring forming a safety device for said grenade and operable to permit said fuse to function, said plate having a surface disposed out of a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said grenade, a joint ring disposed between said cover plate and the shoulder of said ring, an annular angular rim to said cover plate and forming a fulcrum therefor, said cover plate being normally locked in said ring and capable of manual deformation to permit the same to fall from said ring and release the fuse and tee 3!? through said ring, a cover plate for said ring 9 coincident with the longitudinal axis of said meanswhereby said cover plate may be returned to the normal to lock the same in posi tion.

9. A hand grenade comprising a casing for the reception of an explosive, said casing having an opening therein co-axial with the longitudinal axis thereof, a fuse adapted to be positioned in said casing and releasable through said opening, a cover plate for said opening forming a safety device for said grenade and operable to permit said fuse to function, said plate being of concavo-convex form, the centres of the curvature of which lie on a line coincident with the longitudinal axis of said grenade, a joint ring disposed between said cover plate and said opening, an annular angular rim to said cover plate forming a fulcrum therefor, said cover plate being nor mally locked in said opening and capable of manual deformation to permit the same to fall therefrom and allow the fuse to be released and a ring of semi-circular cross section the outer edge of which is loosely connected to the edge of said cover plate and manually operable to return said cover plate after deformation to lock the same in said opening.

10. A hand grenade comprising a casing of ovoid form for the reception of an explosive, said casing having an'opening therein co-axial with the longitudinal axis thereof, a shouldered blocking'ring disposed in said opening and secured to said casing, a fuse adapted to be positioned in said casing and releasable forming a safety device for said grenade and operable to permit said fuse to function, said plate being of concavo-convex form, the centres of the curvature of which lie on a line grenade, a joint ring disposed between said cover plate and the shoulder of said ring, an

' annular angular rim to said cover plate forming a fulcrum therefor, said cover plate being normally locked in said ring and capable of manual deformation to permit the same to fall from said ring and release the fuse and a member of semi-circular cross section the outer edge of which is loosely connected to the edge of said cover plate and is manually operable to rock the plate on its fulcrum to return the cover plate after deformation to lock the same in said ring.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOSEF WES'ZYCKI. 

